Corgi July-December 2015 new Aviation Archive model announcements

AA27202
Avro Vulcan B2, XL321, 617 Squadron, RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire, 1964
1/72
£179.99
Due August 2015
The Avro Vulcan was a British delta wing subsonic bomber operated by the Royal Air Force from 1953 until 1984. The Vulcan was part of the RAF's V bomber force, which fulfilled the role of nuclear deterrent against the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Arguably the most famous RAF squadron, No.617 was formed in 1943 at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire. Commonly known as “The Dambusters” due to its successful attack on the German dams in May 1943, the Squadron operated the famous Vulcan bombers throughout the Cold War. Painted in its iconic white “anti-flash” scheme designed to reflect some of the thermal radiation from a nuclear explosion, the B.2 bombers were configured for the Blue Steel stand-off missile and No.617 Squadron was the first to be declared operational with it in August 1962. These white Vulcans were some of the most distinctive aircraft to have served in the Royal Air Force.  The Squadron’s Vulcans would serve mainly in a low-level penetration role until disbandment on 31st December 1981.



AA27602
Hawker Hurricane MkI, P3120, 303 Polish Squadron, Flying Officer Z K Henneberg, Northolt, September 1940
1/72
£39.99
Due September 2015
Although the Spitfire is celebrated as Britain’s saviour during the Battle of Britain, it was the trusty Hawker Hurricane that inflicted most of the damage on the Luftwaffe. Indeed, the Hurricane destroyed more enemy aircraft than all of Britain’s other defences combined.  In the hands of a capable pilot, the trusty Hurricane was a lethal adversary. No.303 Squadron was one of sixteen Polish squadrons in the RAF during World War Two. Formed in Blackpool, England in July 1940 the Squadron became fully operational on 31st August 1940 at RAF Northolt. The months that followed would prove to be extremely busy for the Squadron and it became the most successful Hurricane equipped squadron of the Battle of Britain.



AA33616
Panavia Tornado GR4, 'Operation Ellamy', Libya, 2011
1/72
£59.99
Due September 2015
The Tornado GR4 is a two-seat RAF aircraft and is still one of the few aircraft in the world that is able to operate at low level, day or night and in poor weather. Having been in service with the RAF for more than thirty years it has undergone major upgrades and enhancements to keep the aircraft amongst the forefront of attack aircraft. The GR4 was deployed in various operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and played a major part in Operation Ellamy in the skies over Libya in 2011. The Operation was part of an international coalition aimed at enforcing a Libyan no-fly zone to prevent government forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi from carrying our air attacks on opposing forces. The coalition’s operation was successful in that the no-fly zone was established with the Tornado proving itself once again to be a vital attack aircraft for the RAF. 



AA33714
Heinkel, He111P Oslo
1/72
£89.99
Due September 2015
Early in the morning on 26th April 1940, four members of KG 4 took off in their Heinkel He111 P-2 5J+CN from Fornebu, Oslo, to look for Allied activity in and around Åndalsnes. Having already been attacked by HMS Manchester, the crew were taken by surprise by two Blackburn Skuas of No. 801 Squadron, flying from HMS Ark Royal. Heinkel 5J+CN was unable to regroup with other Heinkels and the pilots of Skua A7-A unleashed a hail of machine gun fire on the bomber, killing the flight engineer. With the engines either failing or on fire, Pilot Gumbrecht had no choice but to belly-land among the snow covered mountains below. With Stock dead, the remaining three crew members escaped the wreckage and made their way down the mountain. Over four terrible days, suffering from snow blindness and exhaustion they covered over forty-five kilometres until Norwegian soldiers captured them on 30th April 1940. For 30 years the wreckage sat undisturbed (apart from the odd souvenir hunter) until two authors set out to uncover the story of the crashed aircraft and finally managed to reunite the surviving crews of the Heinkel and the Skua that shot it down – an encounter that was sure to be more pleasant than their first. This magnificent aircraft has now been restored to a very high standard and is on display in the Norwegian Armed Forces Aircraft Collection, at Gardermoen, Oslo.



AA36406
Eurofighter Typhoon, 'Operation Ellamy', Libya, 2011
1/72
£54.99
Due October 2015
The Eurofighter Typhoon is a highly capable and extremely agile multi-role combat aircraft and can be deployed as part of any aspect of air operations including supporting peace keeping, air policing and high intensity combat. With its tall sharply swept tail, delta wing and canards mounted before the main wing, the Typhoon is easily recognisable and is a vital RAF aircraft. Ten Typhoons from RAF Coningsby and RAF Leuchars took part in enforcing the no-fly zone over Libya in 2011.



AA36509
Hawker Typhoon Mk IB, 247 (China-British) Squadron, No.124 Wing, 2nd TAF, RAF Eindhoven, December 1944
1/72
£39.99
Due September 2015
The Hawker Typhoon was something of a low-level airborne battering ram and was to take a withering toll of German armour in the last months of WWII.  This particular aircraft was flown by former Battle of Britain ‘Ace’ Sqn. Ldr. Basil Gerald ‘Stapme’ Stapleton and featured some distinctive fuselage artwork.  It depicted a burning eagle of the Reich, with a Typhoon rocket sticking in it - a unique emblem.  Unfortunately, the aircraft made a forced landing in enemy territory in December 1944, following a flak strike. Introduced into service in 1941, the Hawker Typhoon was designed to be the RAF's new ultimate interceptor fighter. Superseding the Hawker Hurricane it was hoped that the Typhoon, together with the Spitfire, would be a powerful and effective opponent of the Luftwaffe. However, it was not to be. Initially plagued by mechanical woes from the engine and suffering from a deficit in performance at high altitude, the Typhoon instead found fame as a low level attack aircraft, a role to which it was well-suited with its powerful engine allowing it to carry a load of up to two 1,000 lb (454 kg) bombs – giving the aircraft the nickname “the Bombphoon”.



AA36710
Junkers Ju 88A-5, 1./Kgr 806, August 1940
1/72
£74.99
Due December 2015
The Junkers Ju 88 was probably the most versatile Luftwaffe aircraft of the Second World War.  The basic airframe was solid and reliable and proved to be an excellent platform for almost constant upgrade and development – as a consequence, the Ju 88 saw service throughout the war. Although the early Ju 88 showed great promise, it needed both more power and more defensive armament.  For these reasons, the aircraft could find itself in severe trouble, when faced with a determined enemy fighter attack.  During the Battle of Britain, the RAF cruelly exposed these deficiencies and many a Ju 88 was to fall to the guns of RAF Spitfires and Hurricanes.  This particular aircraft was badly shot up by RAF Fighters over Southern England, during the Battle of Britain. Having entered production in the spring of 1940, the Junkers Ju 88 served with the Luftwaffe throughout the Second World War, proving itself to be a capable and versatile aircraft, used in all manner of roles from bomber to night fighter. Powered by a pair of 1,200hp Jumo 211 engines, it had an extra ETC 250 bomb rack outboard of the engines, each capable of carrying a 550lb bomb. The Ju 88 went on to prove itself to be extremely effective as an anti-shipping aircraft both in the North Sea and the Mediterranean. The Battle of Britain however proved to be very costly. The Ju 88’s faster speed and the fact it was deployed in smaller numbers than its stable mates did not prevent its losses exceeding those of the Dornier Do 17 and Heinkel He111.  By October 1940, 313 of the aircraft had been lost over Britain.



AA37807
Albatros D.III, 2049/16 Ltn Hermann Goering JAFU, Jasta 27 Iseghem Aerodrome 1917
1/72
£44.99
Due November 2015
When people think of Hermann Goering, many will see him as a rotund figure of WWII, who epitomised the inefficiencies within the Luftwaffe.  In his youth, however, Göring was a dashing and highly capable fighter pilot, who quickly rose to prominence within the German Air Service, collecting promotions and decorations along the way.  He was credited with 22 confirmed victories on the Western Front and was awarded the ‘Pour le Mérite’ or ‘Blue Max’ – Germany’s highest order of merit, which was awarded as recognition of extraordinary personal achievement. Flown by many top German Aces, the Albatros D.III was a biplane fighter aircraft used by the Imperial German Army Air Service in World War One. The aircraft surpassed all others during the period of German aerial dominance known as “Bloody April” in 1917, due in part to its two fixed 7.92mm LMG 08/15 machine guns, plywood skinned fuselage and top speeds of 109 mph.



AA39006
Westland Lynx, AH1GT, XZ221, 'J' 654 Squadron Army Air Corps, Operation Granby, Iraq, 1991
1/72
£44.99
Due October 2015
Designed and built by Westland Helicopters in Yeovil, the Westland Lynx is a British multi-purpose military helicopter which was heavily involved during the First Gulf War in Iraq. Early in 1991 the British Army deployed twenty-four heavily armoured Lynx helicopters alongside the smaller Gazelle to Iraq, giving them the mission of locating and destroying Iraqi tanks as well as supporting the advancing coalition ground forces. On 26th February 1991 during Operation Desert Sabre, No. 654 Squadron engaged and ultimately destroyed no fewer than seven armoured vehicles of the Iraqi 12th Armoured Division. No. 654 Squadron returned to their base in Detmold on 22nd March 1991 without a single loss.



AA39210
Spitfire MkI, LO-Q, L1004 Squadron Leader A Johnstone, 602 Squadron, DFC Tangmere, August 1940
1/72
£39.99
Due September 2015
The now legendary Supermarine Spitfire needs no introduction. It is quite simply one of the most iconic aircraft in the world. L1004 was flown by Squadron Leader Alexander ‘Sandy’ Johnstone, CO of No. 602 Squadron. During the early parts of the War, the Squadron performed defensive duties in Scotland, however, in August 1940 the Squadron moved south to join the Battle of Britain in the skies over Southern England. They went on to have a truly remarkable record during the battle – scoring the second highest toll of enemy aircraft! Their performance is aptly summed up in a message from HQ11 Group. “Group Commander sends warmest congratulations to 602 Squadron on their magnificent combat at midday when they destroyed eight fighters and shot down two others without loss of pilots or aircraft creating a record for months past.”